As demand for high-quality Wagyu beef continues to rise in UK supermarkets, Genus ABS has renewed its exclusive genetics supply partnership with Warrendale Wagyu. This collaboration strengthens a scalable, traceable supply chain connecting elite genetics with premium returns for British dairy farmers.
Wagyu beef is prized for its exceptional marbling, tenderness, and eating quality – traits that have made it an increasingly popular feature on menus and supermarket shelves worldwide. With major UK retailers such as Aldi and Waitrose expanding their Wagyu ranges, the need for a consistent, quality-assured supply has never been greater.
Through this partnership, dairy producers gain access to premium Wagyu genetics backed by a fully supported calf collection and marketing scheme, providing a simple, secure route into the high-value beef market.
A proven route to premium returns
Now in its sixth year, the Genus ABS–Warrendale Wagyu programme has supported hundreds of dairy farmers across the UK. The scheme collects around 600 calves a week from producers, underlining the scale, reliability, and growing demand behind the partnership. The scheme enables producers to use proven Wagyu sires selected specifically for beef-on-dairy systems, adding value to dairy-bred calves while maintaining stringent thresholds for key traits such as calving ease, gestation length and survivability.
“In order to deliver the quality and consistency of our Wagyu Beef it is essential we start with the genetics. Genus ABS genetics have been paramount in ensuring the best end product. More importantly, our dairy farmers love the ease of calving with high vigour, the temperament and health of the stock produced from the genetics. It’s great to know that there are so few problems to be had post-calving. And it’s also evident right through the supply chain.” – Jamie Brownrigg, Production Director, Warrendale Wagyu.
Delivering certainty through the Wagyu Index
At the heart of the programme is the Genus ABS Wagyu Index, Europe’s first beef-on-dairy terminal index built specifically for Wagyu. Based on over 19,000 real-world beef-on-dairy records, the index ensures that only sires meeting strict criteria [ES1] for growth and meat quality are used in the scheme.
This is a critical point of difference, as research shows that beef-on-beef performance does not reliably predict outcomes in beef-on-dairy systems. As one of the industry’s first Wagyu in[RD2] dexes this enables accurate sire selection giving producers confidence in both performance and end-market value.
Real-world data, measurable results
The Wagyu Index is backed by tangible on-farm and abattoir outcomes. In the current population:
- Cold carcase weight differs by 31kg between the top 15% and bottom 15% of sires
- Age at slaughter varies by 36 days, impacting both finishing costs and throughput
- Marbling score differs by 1.74 points on the AUS-MEAT scale, a key driver of premium pricing
These genetic gains translate into faster finishing, higher-value carcases, and increased profitability for dairy farmers.
High-calibre sires backed by data
Standout sires such as Arubial Rhythm, a three-quarter brother to Anticipated, remain top performers within the scheme. With top 10% rankings for gestation length and early growth, and top 5% scores for marbling and fineness, Rhythm, as well as all Warrendale Wagyu approved sires in this scheme, continue to deliver reliable results for producers.
Wagyu sires within the Genus ABS programme also excel for calving ease, with some of the highest-ranking bulls scoring 130 BSI, offering additional peace of mind when crossing beef onto dairy cows.
Why it matters for dairy farmers
- Add value to beef calves with genetics specifically selected for the premium Wagyu market
- Secure route to market, with Warrendale’s national calf collection network
- Backed by demand from established UK retailers and foodservice customers
- Supported by data, ensuring confidence in both calf and carcase performance
Interested in joining the Wagyu programme?
Speak to your local Genus ABS representative, or contact the team today via the form below.
